US2424950A - Apparatus for making confectionery - Google Patents

Description

Ju'iy 29,. 1947. I J. J. ALIKONIS 294249959 APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONFECTIONERY I 7 Filed Feb. 28, 1945 nvmvrolz.

Jaszm J Patented July 29, 1947 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 2,424,950 arrsan'rus roa MAKING CONFECTIONERY Justin J. Alikonis, Bloomington, 111., assignor to Paul F. Belch Company, Blooming-ton, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 28, 1945, Serial No. 580,175 6 Claims. (Cl. 261-94) 2 This invention relates in general to an apparafor the corresponding member appearing in the tus for the production or processing of confecdisclosure of Fig. 1. tionery or like products in which an aerated. Inmy copending application Serial No. 580,174,

frothy or foamy texture is desired. More parfiled concurrently herewith, I illustrate and deticularly the invention relates to a continuous, as 6 scribe a method and apparatus for the processdistinguished from a batch, procedure for procing of confectionery and like stock, involving the .essing or manufacturing such products. introduction of air or a similar gaseous medium It is a general object of the invention to proand thorough difluslon throughout a mass of convide a continuously operable apparatus of the fectionery stock prior to and during an operation type described wherein desired qualities of foam- 01 heating or agitating the latter. iness and frothiness may be imparted to the prod- The present invention differs from the above not by a single operation of difiusion of the candy in that its basic concept involves the diffusion or like stock admixed with a gas through a suitof both the gaseous medium and the mass of conable medium, the only subsequent steps being ,fectionery stock throughaporous mechanical difthose of discharging a mass of the diffused stock fusing agent, whereby intimate difiusion of miland, if desired, molding the same in appropriate lions of air globules or bubbles throughout the sizes and shapes. mass of the stock is efiected in a single, con- A further object is to provide an apparatus of tinuous operation. Hence the manufacturing the type described in which the mass of stock is time is substantially reduced as compared to presautomatically guarded against overheating durently practiced batch procedures involving a ing processing, with consequent elimination of beating operation. the possibility of destructive results attending Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 I illustrate overheating. conventionally a system or apparatus for per- A still further object is to provide an apparatus forming the method of the Pr n invent onin which the overall time for producing confec- The reference numeral I 0 in this figure desigtions of the type described is greatly reduced. nates a diffuser from which the finally processed Yet another object is to provide an apparatus pr duct r mass f st k is dis a d. di a l for the above purposes which is easily cleaned and but not always. to mol ing means (not shown). maintained in hygienic condition. 7 The diffuser chosen for illustration, a type with A still further object is to provide an apparawhich I have achieved very satisfactory results, tus which is well adapted for the production of consists, of a cylindrical chamber II closed a ondifferent qualities or textures of candy products posite ends by centrally apertured plates or disks of the type under consideration. I2, one of which has a discharge pipe I3 con- Other more specific objects and advantages of. nectcd thereto communicating through the plate the invention will be apparent to those skilled in ape t re Wi h he i ri r 01 t e Chamber. The the art upon afull understanding of the improved opposite end closure plate I2 has a supp y p pe method and apparatus herein described. I ll disposed in the central aperture thereof and Preferred embodiments of the invention are extending into the chamber In. presented herein by way of exempliflcation, but it Pipe I4 is intended to have a continuously flowwill of course be appreciated that the invention ing viscous liquid mass of candy stock and air is capable of being embodied in various other under pressu pp i d theret rou h and is p structurally modified forms coming equally withforated at I5 internally of the chamber I0 for in the scope of the appended claims. the discharge of said mass of stock and air. Sur- In the drawings, I rounding the pipe I4 and perforations I5 there- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic or in I provide a diffuser member generally desigschematic view, partially broken away and in lonhated I6. This member consists of a hollow gitudinal vertical section on a line corresponding cylindrical f am nated diffuser sl ve I1 fa rito line I-'I of Fig. 2, conventionally illustrating cated of a suitable porous material, preferably a proposed apparatus for performing the operaa ceramic such as aloxite (A1203) or Carboruntions involved in the present invention; dum. This sleeve is chosen in a grade of suitable Fig. 2 is a. view in transverse vertical section, porosity or permeability to pass radially and difon a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and fuse and intermix the viscous liquid mass and Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views in longituthe air which are supplied through pipe I4 and dinal vertical section illustrating details of modiperforations I5. The ends of the sleeve I! in fied difiusion members adapted to be substituted the illustrated form are closed by apertured disks is fabricated of a material such as that described in the form of a flanged cup integrally closed at one end and secured in place between the cylindrical chamber I l' and the apertured closure plate l2 at the supply end of the diffuser.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a still further modified form of diffuser. designated ll", wherein diffusion is accomplished through a plurality of disks I! of the above described porous material disposed end-to-end in the chamber member H". The disks are of diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of said last named member and held in place therein by washers of rings 20. The porosity of the respective disks I! may be varied as described, ranging from coarse to fine, or any desired selection may be indulged in, either in type of material or quantity of disks, depending upon the composition, consistency and pressure of the mass of stock charged to the system or the desired texture of the final product.

The liquid mass of confectionery stock is supplied under pressure to pipe ll through a conduit 2| communicating said pipe with a centrifugal pump 22. Included in this conduit are a manual control valve, a pressure gauge 24, and a simple one-way flap valve whereby reverse flow of the liquid mass is prevented at this point, This mass of stock may be of any desired composition (within the limitation to be hereinafter referred to), such as a marshmallow mixture or combinations of ingredients of any desired heavier bodied product.

The compressed air is supplied by a pipe or conduit 26 to a reciprocating plunger and cylinder or other appropriate type air compressor 2'! adapted to forward the same to the diffuser. From the compressor 21 the air is discharged to a conduit 28 in which are disposed a manually controlled valve 29, a pressure gauge 2|, and a flap valve 3|. Leaving valve ll, which prevents reverse flow at that point, the air joins the liquid in conduit 2| in entering pipe II to the diffuser.

For purpose of illustration, the air 7 pressure may be, say, 60 pounds, it being understood that the air is supplied to pipe ll simultaneously with a viscous mass of liquid stock, and the viscous liquid stock may be assumed to be at a temperature of about 120 F. as supplied to the diffuser and at a pressure which will vary in accordance with the desired rate of production or desired characteristics of texture of the: final product; in any event the pressure on the liquid will be in excess of the air pressurein conduit 28, stated to be about 60 lbs. per sq. in. A preliminary admixture of air and confectionery stock occurs immediately upon impingement of the air and stock, causing the air to be thoroughly distributed in the flowing body of liquid stock, with a beneficial effect on the subsequent operation of dispersion and working of the air-liquid mixture.

The air and liquid issue from pipe it through perforations IE to the interior of, thence through, the diffuser sleeve II. In traveling along pipe l4, and in particular upon emission from perforations iii to the interior of sleeve IT, a preliminary pro-foaming mixture of the air and viscous stock occurs resulting in globulization of the mass to a considerable extent. In passage through said sleeve the air is finely and copiously 4 diffused in millions of globules throughout the liquid mass so as to saturate and fully aerate the same, while at the same time a very thorough and effective mechanical working and mixing of the mass is performed as the same travels through the interstices of the porous element. Upon emission from said sleeve to the interior of the cylindrical chamber H the stock is in a fluffy, foamy condition and saturated with air and is discharged from the diffuser through pipe I! in a condition immediately available in many cases for molding. The same results occur when the diifuser is constructed as shown in either Fi 3 or Fig. 4. The preliminary mixing and distribution of the air throughout the mass of liquid, which occurs in pipe ll prior to the above diffusion operation, has the important effect of preventing furrowing or channeling of the air through the liquid stock, as might occur if the blast of air were introduced directly at the dispersion zone. This would of course destroy all uniformity of dispersion action and, in fact, tend to eliminate the same entirely. However, such tendency is insured against in the preliminary mixing and foaming phase. As a consequence, the liquid issues through the perforations [5 to fill the interior of the sleeve H in an already aerated condition having bubbles of air uniformly distributed throughout. Subsequent difiuslon through the sleeve is void of blast effects and uniform working of the entire output is assured. In the foregoing description I have referred to a mass of confectionery stock being fed to the diffuser. In the manufacture of marshmallow and similar light bodied products, of specific gravity in the neighborhood of 0.4 to 0.6, it is satisfactory to employ the apparatus and steps described above in a single operation, whereby all ingredients are embodied in the stock charged to the diffuser and the finished product is ready for molding immediately upon issuing from the discharge pipe l3. However, in the case of certain other products ofheavier character, it is desirable, due to inherent limitations of the difi'user material, that the air-liquid diffusion be performed only on the relatively light bodied ingredients, such as egg albumen or soya protein, flavoring, etc., incorporated in said product, or equivalent more readily diffused materials. Following diffusion the mixed and aerated mass is discharged and then mixed with a pre-cooked portion consisting of syrup, sugar, gelatinous and/or heavier ingredients. This procedure will ordinarily be followed in processing of nougat, fudge or similar confections containing air.

The foregoing method and apparatus are extremely rapid, enabling the rapid production of diffused, frothy confectionery and like products of high quality in a continuous operation as distinguished from hitherto relied on batch methods. Moreover, the air-liquid diffusion operation'is self-cooling, i. e., the confectionery stock is prevented from overheating by the passage and intermixture of air therein. Hence the product will not go flat due to swelling and bursting of air bubbles as a result of overheating. Density'of the product can be controlled easily by varying the relative proportions of air and liquidat the valves 23, 29 and current production needs can be similarly controlled, all without loss of free air (air passing through the apparatus without becoming entrained in the confectlonary mass) and without continually sampling the product and making numerous adjustments.

/ The product of the method is characterized by its uniform foam texture, which results from the use of .a diffusion medium of prefabricated, standardized type, as well as by the employment of carefully controlled volumes and pressure.

Needless to say, the working time involved in my process is greatly reduced, compared to existing batch processes. The apparatus required is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and there are no moving parts of any type employed in the diffusion phase. The apparatus is readily cleaned and maintained in hygienic condition, there being no possibility of the admission of foreign matter or impurities during the processing. The diffuser sleeves or elements are readily removable for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure,

means for supplying a mass of viscous liquid stock to be processed under pressure, a diffuser communicating with and supplied with said medium and stock by said means, said respective means for supplying gaseous medium and stock being operatively connected to one another-to efiect preliminary admixture of the medium and stock substantitally prior to treatment by said diffuser, said difluser com'prising a rigid porous diffusion element disposed for passage of said preliminarily treated medium and stock therethrough under pressure, to thereby thoroughly admix the medium and stock and diffuse the former throughout the latter, and a receiving chamber inspaced relation to said element on the side thereof opposite that to which the me+ dium and stock are supplied. v

A 2. Apparatus for processing confectionery and like edible stock, comprising the combination {of means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure, means for supplying a mass of viscous liquid stock to be processed under pressure, and a diffuser communicating with and supplied with said medium and stock by said means, said respective means for supplying gaseous medium and stock being operatively connected to one anstock in the form of a multitude f minute globules, said diffusion element being of uniform thickness in the direction of passage of said medium and stock therethrough and/a confining means for supplying a gaseous diffusion medium and a viscous liquid stock under pressure, a diffusion member in communication with said supply means, comprising a rigid hollow cylindrical diffusion element of porous material of substantial radial thickness, said supply meansforcingsaid medium and stock through said element under pressure whereby to thoroughly intermix the stock and medium and diffusing the latter.

of minute globules through said difiusionelement, and a confining chamber surrounding the diffusion member and receiving the diffused stock therefrom.

5. Apparatus of the type described, comprising means for supplying a gaseous diffusion medium and a viscous liquid stock under pressure, a diffusion member in communication with said supply means, comprising a rigid disk-like diffusion element of porous material of substantial thickness, saidsupply means forcing saidmedium and stock through said element under pressure whereby to for supplying a. gaseous medium under pressure,

other to effect preliminary admixture of the me- I means for supplying a gaseous diffusion medium and a viscous liquid stock under pressure, a diffusion member in communication with said supply means, comprising a diffusion element of porous, fused, ceramic material of substantial thickness, said supply means forcing said medium and stock through said element under pressure whereby to thoroughly intermix the stock and medium and diffuse the latter throughout the 7 means for supplying a mass of viscous liquid stock to be processed under pressure, a difl'user com-v municating with and supplied with said medium and stock by said means, said respective means for supplying gaseous medium and stock being operatively connected to one another to effect preliminary admixture of the medium and stock substantially prior to treatment by said diffuser, 4

said diffuser comprising a rigid porous diffusion element disposed for passage of said preliminarily treated medium and stock therethrough under pressure, to thereby thoroughly admlx the mediumand stock and diffuse the former throughout the latter, and means to direct the flow of said mixture issuing from said element.

JUSTIN J. moms.

REFERENCES r CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,979,685 Grindrod Nov, 6, 1934 1,740,840 Schnabel Dec. 24,1929 1,889,236 Burmeister Nov. 29, 1932 2,295,740. Keen Sept. 15, 1942, 1,702,526 Steeley Feb. 19, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 526,145 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1940 340,268 Great Britain s Dec. 22,1930

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